Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 11 November 1999

Scottish Executive

Careers Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the current review of the Careers Service, whether it still intends to proceed with plans to privatise the Glasgow Careers Service.

Nicol Stephen: It has never been the intention to make any change to the ownership of the partnership company with which the Scottish Executive contracts for delivery of the careers service. Glasgow Careers Service is not to be "privatised".

Culture

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will comment on Dunfermline’s victory in the UK final of ‘It’s a Knockout’.

Rhona Brankin: I would like to congratulate the team representing Dunfermline on their win.

Domestic Violence

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional new money councils will be able to access for domestic violence abuse projects on top of the £2 million available from the Scottish Homes budget and the £3 million announced by the Deputy Minister for Communities on 27 October 1999.

Jackie Baillie: In addition to the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund, details of which I announced on 27 October 1999, there are other sources of funding for domestic abuse projects. For example, a number of projects are being funded through the Social Inclusion Partnerships that target issues concerning violence against women. In the current financial year £982,940 has been allocated for such projects. Local authorities financial settlement is the most generous for seven years with spending set to rise by £840 million over the next three years to 2001-02. Next year local authority spending (GSE) is set to rise by 3.6% with the total available for Social Work Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) rising by nearly 4%.

Education

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the current guidance relating to school exclusion to ensure that all children and young people are given the opportunity to appeal against exclusion.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The current guidance makes clear that children or young people should have their views taken into account and represented in appeals against exclusion. We have no plans to review it further.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is its estimate of the total bill for outstanding repairs to Scotland’s schools.

Peter Peacock: The overall management of their school building stock is a matter for individual education authorities. Detailed information of the kind requested is not held centrally.

Environment

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions in the last month.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with DETR across a wide range of issues.

Finance

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Scottish Block is administered by Non Departmental Public Bodies in the current financial year and what was the comparable figure for 1997-98.

Mr Jack McConnell: In 1999-2000 it is estimated that contributions to NDPBs will account for £2,006 million out of the total Scottish budget of £16,213 million. The comparable figure for 1997-98 was £1,700 million out of a total budget of £14,774 million.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it had in the recent resignation of Mrs Charlotte Stenhouse JP as chairman of Fife Health Board.

Susan Deacon: Mrs Stenhouse wrote to me on 2 November to tender her resignation as the Chairman of Fife Health Board.

Health

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require Fife Health Board to consult with the people of Dunfermline in regard to the development of its Integrated Health Care Strategy.

Susan Deacon: I expect Health Boards and Trusts to engage and consult the public about their strategic proposals. I look to Fife Health Board to follow this process in taking forward the development of its Integrated Health Care Strategy.

Health

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that treatment using intra-cytoplasmic sperm insemination is available to patients in the Greater Glasgow Health Area.

Susan Deacon: Currently, individual Health Boards determine how to respond to the demand for infertility services, including the provision of high technology procedures such as ICSI, on the basis of clinical need for patients who meet locally determined criteria and from within the resources available.

  Access to level 3 services, including ICSI, is under consideration by my Department in the light of the recent review by the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland of the clinical management of infertility services. Once the EAGISS report has been given full consideration by my officials I shall be able to take a view on whether there should be any changes to the current arrangements.

Housing

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its programme for the current year for The Healthy Homes Initiative.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Healthy Homes Initiative reflects our commitment to tackling dampness and is a national priority for housing investment. Under our programme substantial resources are available through capital allocations to local authorities for their own stock and for improvement and repairs grants in the private sector. New Housing Partnerships will also result in significant improvements in stock condition. The Warm Deal is central to the Initiative and 100,000 low-income households will benefit during the lifetime of this Administration.

Justice

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider bringing forward proposals to clarify the issue of parental chastisement of children.

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support plans to make it an offence to strike a child with any implement, whether or not this was deemed to be to the child’s injury.

Mr Jim Wallace: A UK inter-departmental working group is currently examining this question in the light of the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of A v UK . The Scottish Executive is represented on the working group and will consider its recommendations when it reports next year.

Justice

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the convicted killers of Mark Ayton will be released from custody and how long Iain Wheldon and Ross Gravestock will have spent in custody from the date of their sentence.

Mr Jim Wallace: In accordance with section 1(3) of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993, Iain Wheldon, Ross Gravestock and Graham Purves will be released on parole on 23 November 1999. By that date they will have served two years in custody.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to detail (a) the cost of the establishment of the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office in Edinburgh; (b) the operating costs under each budgetary heading for the past year and the projected expenditure for the remaining years of the pilot project; (c) the amount spent on advertising the project and from which budget it was paid, and (d) the number of staff seconded to the scheme, their salary costs and the budget from which they are paid.

Mr Jim Wallace: All the costs of setting up and operating the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office (PDSO) are charged to the Legal Aid Fund. The only expenditure borne by the Board’s grant in aid are minor associated administrative costs which it is impractical to charge to the Fund, such as personnel and payroll services. These are estimated at £3,500 to £4,000 to date.

  The set up cost of the PDSO to 30 September 1998 was £194,000, including £3,063 for seconded staff salaries.

  The operating costs of the PDSO for the 12 months ending 30 September 1999 are shown in the table below.

  


Budget 
  

£ 
  



Salaries, superannuation and other 
  staff costs 
  

220,794 
  



Seconded staff (1½ staff) 
  

32,937 
  



Accommodation 
  

96,083 
  



Case related costs 
  

46,175 
  



Office equipment, printing and 
  stationery etc. 
  

50,032 
  



Advertising 
  

2,749 
  



Total 
  

448,770 
  



  As indicated in my reply of 29 October to Duncan Hamilton (S1W-2026), the projected expenditure for future years cannot be predicted with any accuracy because the number and demands of the cases handled by the Office determine costs.

Justice

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to amend the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act (1971) to ensure that in establishing and maintaining such Courts, due regard is paid to "the desirability, the expense and inconvenience occasioned to those directly involved" as is required of local authorities in connection with District Courts in the Local Government (Scotland) Act (1994).

Mr Jim Wallace: I have no plans to propose amendment of the legislation. Any proposals to change the current arrangements for the provision of Sheriff Courts would require to be approved by the Parliament. Before bringing the appropriate Order before the Parliament, Ministers would carefully consider the full implications for Court users and communities of any proposed change in arrangements.

Justice

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider proposing that victims’ families be represented at Parole Board Hearings.

Angus MacKay: Under the terms of the Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 1993, the Board considers cases of long term and adult mandatory life prisoners in private. The purpose of the Board's consideration is to establish whether the release of a prisoner on licence is acceptable in terms of risk to the public. The Board does not consider how long a prisoner should serve on grounds of punishment and deterrence. If the family of a victim so request, they will be told when a prisoner is to be considered for release by the Board. The family may also submit their views for consideration by the Board. I have no plans to change these arrangements which allow the views of the families to be considered.

  When the Board is sitting as a Tribunal to consider whether a designated life prisoner should be released, it may authorise any person to attend a hearing. This is a matter for the Tribunal to consider in relation to an individual case and I have no plans to change this arrangement.

Maritime Heritage

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1591 by Sarah Boyack on 30 September 1999, what measures it is taking to protect Scotland’s shipping heritage with specific reference to conservation of vessels of historic importance.

Rhona Brankin: We fully appreciate the significance of Scotland’s shipping heritage and have to date designated up to five historic wrecks lying in Scottish waters under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. Though the responsibility of conservation of historic vessels lies with their owners, Historic Scotland, an Agency of the Scottish Executive, can give practical advice on conservation issues and will shortly be publishing a policy paper on the protection of underwater archaeology.

Nuclear Weapons

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with Her Majesty’s Government on the ruling by Sheriff Gimblett on the legality of nuclear weapons.

Lord Hardie: My decision to refer the matter to the High Court of Justiciary was taken by me independently of all other persons. I notified the Ministry of Defence of his decision.

Nuclear Weapons

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what emergency planning provision has been made to prepare for the possibility of Year 2000 computer problems affecting Trident nuclear submarines in Scotland.

Angus MacKay: The Ministry of Defence, emergency services, local authorities and health boards have well established procedures in place for any kind of emergency occurring at submarine bases. These are regularly rehearsed, reviewed and revised to take account of any new threats or issues. Specific responsibility for addressing Y2000 computer issues in relation to the Trident base is, however, a matter for the Secretary of State for Defence.

Parliament

Mike Watson (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will begin to publish bilateral Concordats agreed between Whitehall Departments and their counterparts in the Executive.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following bilateral concordats are being published today:

  MAFF

  DfEE

  DETR

  Cabinet Office

  The texts have been made available to the Parliament and are available in the Document Supply Centre and on the Executive’s web site.

Rural Affairs

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase funding for the Agricultural Business Improvement scheme to fund current applications.

Ross Finnie: Industry interests have been consulted on how best to deal with the substantial number of applications received under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme. I am now considering those comments and will be announcing my decision as soon as possible.